Ostomy pocket patch

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/715,579 filed Nov. 3, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates in general to ostomy bags, and in particular to a patch that is attachable to the inside of a patient's shirt or other garment to create a pocket for receiving and supporting an ostomy bag.

An ostomy bag or pouch is a medical device configured to collect waste. Ostomy bags are commonly associated with colostomies and ileostomies, which are surgeries that bypass diseased parts of the bowel and allow the body to get rid of waste products. With a colostomy, a surgeon will create an opening from the large intestine through the abdomen for waste to pass through. An ileostomy is similar, but the opening connects to the small intestine. For patients who have had a cystectomy (bladder removal) due to cancer or trauma, a urostomy may be necessary to redirect urine into a urostomy bag. In each case, the opening or passageway made through the abdomen is called a stoma, and the ostomy bag typically has a flange or fitting at the upper part of the bag for removable attachment to the stoma, creating an airtight seal. There are a variety of ostomy bags in common use, and they are typically made of a transparent or semitransparent plastic material. The bottom of the collection bag can also include a drain tube that can be opened to release fluid wastes.

Patients first learning to live with an ostomy bag can find it difficult to feel comfortable going out in public. In addition, the plastic material can stick to and irritate the patient's skin, and the bag itself can be somewhat cold to the touch when attached, and then warm as it fills, which can be rather uncomfortable. While ostomy bag design has improved over the years to improve physical comfort, patients still find that the profile of the ostomy bag is noticeable under their clothing, and they worry about bulging or otherwise showing in public. Furthermore, as the ostomy bag fills with waste, the weight of the pouch increases and may provide stress on the stoma.

Holders and pouches for supporting ostomy bags are known, and can range from full garments to belts and vests with pockets, as well as reversibly attachable pockets. Nevertheless, such holders tend to be heavy and bulky, do not allow the patient to wear their “every day” clothing, and have generally been insufficient in providing ample support and comfort, or providing a form-fitting ability. Typical pockets for holding and supporting ostomy bags can be either disposable and/or washable/reusable, can be made of any type of fabric, such as cloth, canvas, leather, plastic, or any other suitable material, and they typically are reversibly attachable with Velcro, buttons, zippers, snaps, or hooks.

While many types of ostomy bag holders and supports are known, there is an ongoing need for pocket for an ostomy bag having a simple design that is economical to make and easy to employ, that can be attached to any garment, and can reduce the discomfort associated with wearing an ostomy bag. It would also be beneficial to provide a pocket for supporting an ostomy bag that can allow the garment to hug close to the body, without hanging out or bulging as the ostomy bag expands.

The present invention provides a pocket configured for permanent attachment to a garment, such as a shirt or blouse, to receive and support an ostomy bag close to the body.

Specifically, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a patch for attachment to an inside surface of a garment to create a definitive pocket for receiving and supporting an ostomy bag, the patch comprising: (a) a first half-patch; and (b) a second half-patch, wherein the first half-patch and the second half-patch are identical, each including an angled corner, a curved side, a straight side, a base side, a welt, and a stitch line, wherein the angled corner and the curved side of the first half-patch are sewn to the angled corner and the curved side of the second half-patch to create a bottom corner and a middle seam for the patch, wherein the patch is adapted for attachment to the inside surface of a garment to create a definitive pocket, the definitive pocket having an opening for receiving and holding an ostomy bag, wherein the welts are adjacent to either end of the opening, and wherein the middle seam allows the definitive pocket to expand in the horizontal direction towards a wearer's body as the ostomy bag fills.

While the nature and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following drawings and detailed description, showing the contemplated novel combinations and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it is understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the present invention are meant to be included within the scope of the claims.

The inventive ostomy pocket patch described herein is concealed within a garment and can accommodate expansion of an ostomy bag. The patch is intended for permanent attachment to the inside surface of the garment, such as a shirt or blouse, in order to form a “definitive” pocket on the inside surface of the garment, which can receive and support the ostomy bag close to the body. So long as the ostomy bag is emptied regularly to avoid overfilling, the pocket created by patch allows the garment's fabric to lie substantially flat against the wearer's body as the ostomy bag expands, without creating an awkward silhouette.

With reference to, aspects of the inventive pocket patchfor receiving and supporting an ostomy bag close to the body are illustrated.shows a half-patchused to create the inventive pocket patch, in which each half-patchincludes an angled corner, a curved side, a straight side, a base side, a welt, and a stitch line(dashed line). As illustrated in, two pieces of fabric, each shaped as the half-patchshown in, can be arranged so that the angled cornerof each half-patch is aligned with the other, and the curved sideof each half-patch is aligned with the other. The cornersand curved sidesof each half-patch can then be sewn or hemmed together along the stitch line, and thereafter their base sidescan be hemmed along the stitch lineto create the openingfor the pocket.

The stitch lineprovides dimension to the definitive pocket (, seeandB) upon the patchbeing ironed on or otherwise attached to the inside surface of a garment, according to the invention, so that the definitive pocket bows open slightly, even when empty, and also allows for inward expansion, i.e., toward the users skin (see). In addition, as illustrated in, the hemmed curved sidesform a middle seamupon sewing the half-patchestogether, and the hemmed angled cornersform a bottom cornerof the completed pocket patch, the fully formed pocket patchpreferably has a symmetrical appearance, substantially in the shape of an isosceles triangle, giving it the ability to be rotated and arranged to fit within the lower corner of either the right or the left front sides of a shirt or blouse prior to attachment, for example, of the bottom cornerof the pocket patchto the right or left front corner of the garment. The weltsadjacent either end of the pocket openingare preferably oversized and rounded as illustrated, making them useful for protecting the patch from peeling off of the garment over time, or over extended use or stretching of the pocket opening. In addition, attaching the straight sidesand the cornerof the pocket patchto the end seams of the garment itself can provide additional support to help prevent sagging as the ostomy bag fills.

The inventive pocket patchdescribed above is preferably an iron-on, permanently attachable patch for adhesion to the inside surface of a garment, such as a favorite shirt or blouse; however, as noted above it must first be attached to the garment in order to create a “definitive” pocket which completes the openingfor holding an ostomy bag. See, which illustrates the “back” panelof the pocket patch, or the future “inside” surface, which includes the addition of medium-weight, double-sided adhesive strips,,. These adhesive strips are preferred for attaching the straight sides, the weltsand the bottom cornerof the patch to the inside surface of the user's garment, so that once the patchis applied to the garment, the definitive pocket(see), is formed which includes a completed openingfor holding an ostomy bag. As seen in, the medium-weight, double-sided adhesive strips,,include straight tapeattached over each straight sideof the patch, welt tapeattached over each of the welts, and corner tapeattached over the bottom cornerof the patch. However, it is noted that there is no adhesive strip attached to the base sideof the patch, so that the openingof the definitive pocketcan be formed for receiving the ostomy bag. The adhesive strips are preferably made of a very thin, lightweight layer of film or webbing, for example, tape marketed by the Plantion company. The use of medium-weight, double-sided adhesive is preferred because it is a non-woven, heat-activated bonding material which acts as a heat-activated glue for permanently joining the inside surfaceto the user's garment without the need for sewing.

illustrates the “front” panelof the pocket patch, which is the future “outside” surfaceof the definitive pocket(see), which will face the wearer's skin after attachment. As illustrated, the front panel includes the middle seam, which bows in towards the wearer in use, due to the hemmed curved sidesof each half-patch. It can be appreciated that the front panelis symmetrical, and substantially in the shape of an isosceles triangle, with the straight sidesof each half-patchforming the legs of the triangle, and the connected base sidesof each half-patch forming the base of the isosceles triangle. The weltsprovide oversized corners which aid in the stability of the pocket patch's attachment to the user's garment.

The openingof the pocket, in addition to being protected by the oversized weltson either side from overuse or the from the repeated stretching caused by expanding ostomy bags, also includes a hem, which may or may not be elasticized. In one embodiment, the openingcan include an elasticized hem(see, e.g.,) which can help to secure the ostomy bag within the pocket, when either empty or filled. When the ostomy bag is empty, the elasticized hemcan snugly hold the ostomy bag in place. As the ostomy bag fills, the elastic's tension can loosen, but still help to secure the enlarging bag and prevent it from shifting or bulging away from the body. This can also allow the ostomy bag to move in unison with the wearer's body, adjusting to the bag's size and creating a “custom” fit. This is particularly useful for active individuals, as it maintains security and comfort during movement.

As best seen in, creation of the middle seampreferably employs a “301 single needle stitch”. The 301 stitch is done by passing a single needle thread through the fabric and interlocking it with a bobbin thread at the center of the material, forming a “lockstitch”. It is the preferred stitch for joining the two half-patches, and is formed by placing the two pieces of fabric directly on top of one another (i.e., superimposing them) and sewing them together near their curved sides, along line. Also, the base sidesof each half-patchare hemmed along the stitch lineto create the openingfor the definitive pocket(see). The interlocking threads create a strong, tight, and secure seam which is low-bulk, and can provide a smooth feel to the seam that looks the same on both sides. This stitch is preferred due to its durability, smooth appearance, and versatility.

Although the preferred use of iron-on adhesive tape makes the inventive pocket patch permanent, and thus not removable or reusable, this attachment method is preferred because the iron-on tape provides a stronger holding power, lighter weight, and an invisible finish as compared to reusable attachment means known in the art, such as hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro), clips, buttons, or buckles. Since the preferred iron-on adhesive tape is physically light in weight, the “medium-weight” designation is used in the tape industry to refer to the strength of the bond it creates, which is a stronger, more permanent hold than “light weight” fusible adhesives which are used for more fragile materials such as chiffon or lace. Advantageously, medium-weight double-sided adhesive tape creates a smooth bond with the garment, without bulky seams or stitches, and heat activation only requires a household iron to melt the adhesive and bond the fabrics together.

In a preferred embodiment, due to the curvature of the middle seam, the hemmed pocket patchexpands towards the surface on which it lies, and not the surface to which it is attached. For example, as can be appreciated from viewing, a side view of the definitive pocketis illustrated in which the back panel or inside surfaceof the patch is attached to the inside surface of a shirtof a wearer. The front panel or outside surfaceof the pocket patch can be seen bulging towards the skin surface(dashed line) of the wearer. Comparingto, it can be appreciated that the middle seamcauses the pocketto bow or expand towards the skin surfaceas the ostomy bag fills and expands. Without this curved middle seam, the pocket would expand horizontally in both directions, i.e., both inward towards the skin surfaceas well as outward, causing a bulge in the silhouette of the wearer's shirt. This curved middle seamcan thus be useful for allowing inconspicuous expansion of a filling ostomy bag, allowing the pocketto expand towards the wearer's body as the ostomy bag fills and expands, such that the garment does not bulge, “pouch out” or look uneven while being worn. This can also decrease the amount of downward sagging of the garment while still supporting the weight of the filling ostomy bag. The expanding curved seamalso allows for progressive filling of the ostomy bag without causing leaks as the bag fills, since the bag is not overly compressed or constricted. When the pocket patchis attached to the front right or front left corner of a shirt or blouse, the gentle curve of the seammay also conform to the body's natural contours, reducing irritation and creating a more discreet profile.

The inventive pocket patch can be used for both adult and children's clothing, and it's overall size can be adjusted to create larger or smaller pockets, as needed according to the specific user and the specific type/size of ostomy bag being supported. While the inventive pocket patch is preferably for use with ostomy bags, it is envisioned that it may also be useful for surgical drains. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the claimed ostomy pocket patch is simple in construction and can be quickly and easily attached to most shirts or blouses, or other garments.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments and examples thereof, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the invention.